31 Aug 2010

Federer shows he's still a force to reckoned with at U.S. Open

6:41 pm on 31 August 2010

Roger Federer's served notice he's still a force to be reckoned with at the U.S. Tennis Open, with a straight sets first round win at Flushing Meadows.

Federer, whose run of five successive U.S. titles was broken last year in a five-set final against Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, had a 6-1 6-4 6-2 win.

Federer reprised the between-the-legs winner he hit last year in the semi-finals with an equally spectacular between-the-legs winner in the second set, leaving his opponent applauding.

The former world number one Australian Lleyton Hewitt's suffered his earliest exit at the tournament, beaten in five sets by Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, while fifth seed Robin Soderling's narrowly avoided the same first round fate needing five sets to overcome Austrian qualifier Andreas Haider-Maurer, who's ranked 214 in the world.

There were wins also for women's second seed Kim Clijsters and third seed Venus Williams who's back after two two months off with a knee injury.